Review by Read_Terri -- The Cult Next Door
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Read_Terri
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Review by Read_Terri -- The Cult Next Door
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Cult Next Door" by Elizabeth R. Burchard, Judith L. Carlone.]
Elizabeth Burchard writes about her life in a cult. Living in Manhattan, she was born to a mother that did not know how to give love and was cruel. Liz (Elizabeth) had a father that she adored, but he died when she was 12 and left her seeking love. Liz’s mother is an educated woman but did not feel she could make decisions about her life without a professional advising her. Liz’s mother and Liz seek different types of professional and when biofeedback therapy is a new rage, they start that theory. George, the biofeedback technician over a course of years, pulls Liz and her mother into his snare. Liz relives her cult days about how an educated woman is drawn in and how she escapes. Judith L. Carlone tells about meeting Liz and through friendship, helps Liz gain control of her life.
The Cult Next Door, written by Elizabeth R. Burchard and Judith L. Carlone, takes the reader into a world of an overlooked cult. A cult that is not on a compound but in an upscale Manhattan neighbor. I was fascinated from beginning to end of this book. Liz sought love after the loss of her father and first love and never attained it. The need for love at such a young age made her easy prey for George Sharkman to target. The story kept me enthralled. How could this smart, educated woman, not see what is happening to her? Why does she keep going back to such a horrible man? At times, this story was hard to read with the abuse Liz experienced. The sections that Burchard wrote are good at making me feel her pain.
The Cult Next Door receives a 4 out of 4 rating. Burchard’s ability to describe events in her life is compelling. Carlone explains her thought process to rescue Liz from the cult is clear and well written. The story starts when Liz is eight and ends when she is near forty. Her life’s story shows someone can overcome adversity. It also brings hope to someone living under the control of another and to realize escape is possible.
The Cult Next Door would be interesting to a range of readers. The readers that like true stories and overcoming adversity. Readers that enjoy stories validating the belief that people come into our lives for a reason will find this one of those books. A bond formed between Liz and Judith from the first time they met, and over time, Judith was able to get Liz to see what George was doing. Readers who are interested in psychology, manipulative tactics, or cult psychology. However, this story may be hard to read by someone abused. The story may contain triggers for those readers. Or those same readers could find hope in this book and gain strength from reading it.
The book is written well and professionally edited. A slight amount of strong language is used. The sexual sections are brief and not graphic. It makes it easier to read, then in-depth descriptions of those experiences. I did not want to live those emotions through Liz’s words. I did not like that the authors did not state that pseudonyms are used. Since the book lists as nonfiction, a disclaimer that pseudonyms are used should have been included.
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The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Elizabeth Burchard writes about her life in a cult. Living in Manhattan, she was born to a mother that did not know how to give love and was cruel. Liz (Elizabeth) had a father that she adored, but he died when she was 12 and left her seeking love. Liz’s mother is an educated woman but did not feel she could make decisions about her life without a professional advising her. Liz’s mother and Liz seek different types of professional and when biofeedback therapy is a new rage, they start that theory. George, the biofeedback technician over a course of years, pulls Liz and her mother into his snare. Liz relives her cult days about how an educated woman is drawn in and how she escapes. Judith L. Carlone tells about meeting Liz and through friendship, helps Liz gain control of her life.
The Cult Next Door, written by Elizabeth R. Burchard and Judith L. Carlone, takes the reader into a world of an overlooked cult. A cult that is not on a compound but in an upscale Manhattan neighbor. I was fascinated from beginning to end of this book. Liz sought love after the loss of her father and first love and never attained it. The need for love at such a young age made her easy prey for George Sharkman to target. The story kept me enthralled. How could this smart, educated woman, not see what is happening to her? Why does she keep going back to such a horrible man? At times, this story was hard to read with the abuse Liz experienced. The sections that Burchard wrote are good at making me feel her pain.
The Cult Next Door receives a 4 out of 4 rating. Burchard’s ability to describe events in her life is compelling. Carlone explains her thought process to rescue Liz from the cult is clear and well written. The story starts when Liz is eight and ends when she is near forty. Her life’s story shows someone can overcome adversity. It also brings hope to someone living under the control of another and to realize escape is possible.
The Cult Next Door would be interesting to a range of readers. The readers that like true stories and overcoming adversity. Readers that enjoy stories validating the belief that people come into our lives for a reason will find this one of those books. A bond formed between Liz and Judith from the first time they met, and over time, Judith was able to get Liz to see what George was doing. Readers who are interested in psychology, manipulative tactics, or cult psychology. However, this story may be hard to read by someone abused. The story may contain triggers for those readers. Or those same readers could find hope in this book and gain strength from reading it.
The book is written well and professionally edited. A slight amount of strong language is used. The sexual sections are brief and not graphic. It makes it easier to read, then in-depth descriptions of those experiences. I did not want to live those emotions through Liz’s words. I did not like that the authors did not state that pseudonyms are used. Since the book lists as nonfiction, a disclaimer that pseudonyms are used should have been included.
******
The Cult Next Door
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Mindset by Ace Bowers
